Nov. 08, 2012
David E. Steitz
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1730
david.steitz@nasa.gov
RELEASE: 12-388
NASA SELECTS AMERICAN SMALL BUSINESSES FOR CONTINUATION OF INNOVATIVE RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS
WASHINGTON -- NASA has selected 39 small business proposals to enter
into negotiations for Phase 2 contract awards through the agency's
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program. The SBIR program
partners with small businesses to catalyze efforts to develop new
technologies to support NASA's technology needs.
NASA will award contracts to 36 small high-technology firms in 17
states with a total value of approximately $27 million. These
competitive, awards-based programs encourage U.S. small businesses to
engage in federal research and development, and bring new
technologies to the global marketplace.
"NASA's SBIR activities foster innovative approaches to technology
development -- from concept to prototype to an eventual commercial
product or service," said Michael Gazarik, director of the Space
Technology Program at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "Phase 2 marks
a major milestone for these projects; they've moved from the drawing
board to the lab, solving tough technology problems that will enable
NASA's future missions while bringing new, valuable products into our
economy."
NASA's SBIR program enables businesses to explore new technologies and
potentially profit from development of new commercial products and
services. The program addresses specific technology gaps in agency
missions and also strives to complement other NASA research
investments. Program results have benefited many NASA efforts,
including modern air traffic control systems, Earth-observing
spacecraft, the International Space Station and the Mars rovers.
In addition to meeting NASA's needs, the Phase 2 proposals also
provide innovative research in areas that have commercial
applications. For example:
-- In support of NASA's aeronautics research, SBIR research will lead
to the development of better software for verification and validation
of flight-critical systems that will improve aviation safety.
Selected research also will develop new cryo-cooling systems that
could be used on future fuel-efficient airplanes powered by
turboelectric motors. This technology also could be used for future
alternative energy production using superconducting wind turbines.
-- As part of NASA's mission of scientific discovery, SBIR projects
will develop new optical technology that can vastly improve our
ability to detect extra-solar planets in the visible or near-infrared
spectrum. These technologies will add innovation to America's
multi-billion-dollar optical components industry.
-- To enable human exploration beyond Earth's orbit, NASA SBIR
projects will explore new technologies for the next generation of
radiation shielding materials needed to protect astronauts and
spacecraft from the harmful effects of space radiation. These new
radiation shielding materials could have Earth-bound applications as
well, protecting first responders and our military from environments
where harmful radiation might be present. New lightweight shielding
also may dramatically reduce design and fabrication costs for nuclear
medicine and radiation therapy applications.
The highly-competitive SBIR program is a three-phase award system. It
provides qualified small businesses, including those owned by women
and the disadvantaged, with opportunities to propose unique ideas
that meet specific research and development needs of the federal
government.
Phase 1 is a feasibility study to evaluate the scientific and
technical merit of an idea. Awards are for up to six months. The
selected Phase 2 projects will expand on the results of Phase 1
projects selected last year, with up to $700,000 to support research
for up to two years. Phase 3 is for the commercialization of the
results of Phase 2 and requires the use of private sector or non-SBIR
federal funding.
Program participants submitted 246 Phase 2 proposals. Proposal
selection criteria included technical merit and innovation, Phase 1
performance and results, value to NASA, commercial potential and
company capabilities. NASA is making a limited number of new SBIR
Phase 2 selections at this time, and expects to make a second round
of Phase 2 awards in late spring of 2013, following passage of
federal appropriations for the agency.
NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, Calif., manages the SBIR
program for the agency's Space Technology Program. NASA's 10 field
centers manage individual projects.
For a complete list of selected companies, visit:
http://sbir.nasa.gov
NASA's Space Technology Program is innovating, developing, testing,
and flying technology for use in NASA's future missions and the
greater aerospace community. For more information about NASA's Space
Technology Program, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/oct
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